CAMPANIA, ITALY
The Amalfi Coast is a 50 km long coastline on the southern edge of Sorrentine Peninsula, in the Campania region. It seduces its visitors with dramatic cliffs, rugged shoreline and and pastel-coloured fishing villages. Highly recommended for a road trip adventure and hiking excursions.
Castello di Meleto is a gorgeous backdrop for a maternity photo session. It has it all – the olive groves, the vineyards and the golden sunset caressing the landscape all year round. The views are so mesmerising you can’t even tell that it’s February!
In fact Martina and Carlo embraced with joy my offer to use this location for their lifetime memories. Martina is in her last week of pregnancy and the photos we created together are really the last moments before the baby boy is born. I was truly touched by the tenderness and love they shared and how happy they were to meet their new baby.
Location: Castello di Meleto
Here is a complete guide on how to elope in tuscany
Tuscany is a land of beauty, romance and beautiful landscapes and if you do decide to elope here, you surely won’t regret it! The nature of elopements is that they are tailor made and also yours can be. Whether you are for a romantic elopement, boho, chic or adventurous one, Tuscany has everything to offer to meet your wildest dreams.
Elopement means a “love escape to get married” and is a form of an intimate destination wedding in a location of your dreams. It means living a day of your life on your own terms and leaving everything behind. Whether just in two or with a handful of closest people, it’s becoming increasingly popular for the freedom it grants and the sense of adventure on your wedding day.
… and why in Tuscany?
Now, let’s jump into it!
tip 1
The good news is that you don’t have to live in Italy to get legally married here and there are two ways of eloping:
tip 2
Are you a food lover or do you seek an adventure? Would you like to drive around Tuscany on a Vespa or rather spend the day in a thermal spa? Define what your perfect day would look like and plan accordingly. There are infinite types of locations for elopement. You can get married in a rustic agriturismo or in the fields in the middle of nowhere. You can choose mountains, a beach, a vineyard or an olive grove. Narrow down your preferences and that will help you looking for the right location.
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Here are the most beautiful, in my opinion, locations to consider:
VAL D’ORCIA
Val d’Orcia is a valley in central Tuscany and if you’re looking for postcard Italy, this is where you’ll find it! Golden rolling hills, white cypress roads, romantic light and little cobblestone villages, it’s all here. In fact since 2024 Val d’Orcia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and locals feel very strongly about preserving it’s natural beauty and authenticity. You can choose whether to elope in the countryside with the fields in the backdrop or in one of the gorgeous little towns like Pienza, Montepulciano, Montalcino to name just a few. Oh, I forgot to mention, it’s where The Gladiator was filmed.
Around Siena
Equally beautiful to Val d’Orcia and a little less known (but just a little), the countryside around Siena is filled with picturesque corners for a scenic elopement. The area is home to countless rustic villas famous for destination weddings and elopements. If you’re after winding cypress roads and endless hills, you’ll find them here as well. A plus is the vicinity of Siena, one of the must-see cities in Tuscany, which itself is a fantastic location for an elopement or a post-elopement photo shoot. It has many cultural attractions and delicious restaurants that you could integrate into your elopement experience.
San Galgano Abbey
Would you like to feel like in a movie? Then San Galgano Abbey is your location. It’s a roofless cathedral located 34 km away from Siena. It’s poetic, timeless and romantic. Weddings and elopements are officially held here and you can choose whether to involve an officiant from the nearby Marriage Office to legalise your marriage or to have a symbolic ceremony.
Chianti
Are you a food and red wine lover? Then Chianti is your safe bet. At the very heart of Tuscany, it’s home to the world renowned Chianti wine and one of Italy’s most famous food and wine destinations. Combine your elopement with wine and olive oil tasting, cooking classes, road trip around endless vineyards and live an unforgettable experience in this world famous gem.
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Are you a foodie? Organise your elopement around delicious food and wine! Are you into nature, arts, music, photography, horse riding, vespas, canyoning… make your passions part of your big day and make it truly unforgettable. Your elopement doesn’t have to be just about getting married. You can integrate anything you can dream of into the day and make it an all-round experience. From a classical music concert to a hiking trip, Tuscany has a lot to offer to curious souls.
tip 5
Choose the season
SPRING is actually a perfect season for an elopement. From the middle of April to the middle of June the weather is glorious and it’s not so busy in Tuscany just yet. Even though it’s not the high season, it’s a very popular time of year for weddings and if you’d like to book a location, it’s best to plan a few months in advance.
SUMMER is the busiest season in Tuscany in terms of tourism. Even though many couples decide to get married in July and August, the temperatures get so high that enjoying the outdoors during the day may be challenging. Still, you can plan your elopement on a beach and go for a swim afterwards!
AUTUMN is also a popular season among couples who come to Tuscany to get married, but keep in mind that from the end of September the evenings start to become chilly and dining outdoors may be less pleasant. The days are also shorter and you may need to add an evening experience to your elopement if you want to take the most out of the day.
WINTER is definitely the least popular of all the seasons. In fact many locations close for the winter months and reopen for Easter. Yet, if you don’t mind cooler temperatures (by cooler I mean 5-10 degrees), mystic atmosphere and tourist attractions all to yourselves, then this is your safe bet! Winter in Tuscany is quite unpredictable, though. You may find bright sunny days with 18 degrees and you might get a week of rain. It’s a gamble.
tip 6
Are you an adventurous spirit? Make your elopement a thrilling experience! Apuan Alps is where you’ll find canyoning, rafting and paragliding. The seaside will grant you aquatic adventures. There are countless trekking and hiking trails all across Tuscany. Motor cross, quads, mountain bikes, horse back riding, they’re all a big thing in Tuscany. Your elopement day can be the most awesome day of your lives.
tip 7
Has Tuscany been on your bucket list for a long time? Or maybe you’ve been here already and come back time and time again because you love it so much? Tuscany is an absolutely fantastic destination for your honey moon so why not making it the extension of your elopement! There is a vast offer for both budget and luxury travellers and you can effortlessly make it a magical time of celebration.
tip 8
Your elopement attire will depend on how much adventuring you’d like to do on the day. Make sure that you can move freely and you can walk, sit down and climb the stairs effortlessly. Your comfort will have a huge influence on your mood and you don’t want to ruin your elopement day with inaccurate attire which looks stunning, but limits you.
THE BRIDE
If you’re wearing a dress, make sure it’s light and easy to walk in. Avoid a mermaid dress and tight skirts. If you’re eloping in spring or autumn, bring some extra layers to cover your back and shoulders. In summer bring a mosquito spray and sun screen.
THE GROOM
Similar rules apply when it comes to men. The groom’s attire should be comfortable, not too heavy for summer time and not too light for spring and autumn. The layers should be easy to take off and, please, remember to empty your pockets!
BOTH
What both of you have to absolutely remember about are comfortable shoes! Make sure you break them before your elopement, especially if you plan to walk a lot. Unless you plan to elope on the beach, then you can even come barefoot!
tip 9
Tuscany’s wedding market is rich in offer, but if there is somebody you’d particularly love to involve in your elopement, make sure to reach out to them as soon as you have the date and the location. In the past, weekdays were less popular, but nowadays couples get married from Monday to Sunday and it’s best to book early. Especially if you’re thinking about May-September months.
tip 10
The timeline will depend on the experiences you’d like to live on your dream day. Below you’ll find a couple of examples of a possibile elopement timeline.
Romantic Elopement
Adventurous Elopement
to sum up
There are many things to think about even though it’s not a big greek wedding. Make sure nothing escapes your attention and make a list of all the stages, vendors and experiences. Here is a short list of things that you should definitely have on your list:
I hope that you find this Elopement Guide insightful. Now that you have all the information in hand, you are ready to start planning your extraordinary elopement!
Anna and Stephan got married in Villa Spadaforte and filled this place with colour and joy. It was an intimate wedding shared with the closest family and friends. It was early September and the day was gorgeous with cloudless sky, warm air and golden light.
Being an event organiser herself, Anna took care of the tiniest details and did a wonderful job curating her own wedding. Everything was perfectly matching in colour, texture and composition.
The story continues ↓
Location: Villa Spadaforte
DJ: Niki DJ
The day started with the preparation of the bride, who was getting spoiled by her bridesmaids. She was surrounded by only the closest women in her life, who helped to do her hair and make-up and shared the emotional ups and downs of this special moment.
Meanwhile, the groom was adjusting the last details of his attire, before welcoming the guests that started arriving to the ceremony. Always smiling, charming and laid back, at that point also Stephan started becoming emotional about the ceremony that was about to come.
Once ready, Anna and her sister, who was also her maid of honour, left for the ceremony. With tears rolling in her eyes, she joined her dad who was waiting round the corner and together they headed to the ceremony in the pine forest of Villa Spadaforte.
And it was a ceremony unlike any other! It was full of surprises and laughter. Beginning with the hilarious ceremony conduction by Anna’s friend, to an unexpected jazz session improvised by two musician friends and ending with the fluffy ring boy, which was… none other but Anna’s beloved golden retriever.
After the ceremony, all the guests moved to the lower part of the location for the aperitivo. Yet, they didn’t leave empty-handed, as everyone had the task of moving their own chair from the ceremony to dinner table! What an immaculate organisation!
When Anna and Stephan joined their guests by the swimming pool, they were welcomed with an explosion of cheering, dancing, hugs, kisses and overwhelming joy. The party had unofficially started!
At sunset, while everyone started moving towards the dinner table, we run off to take a few romantic shots in the sunset light just behind the villa. What followed was a delicious dinner, wedding cake and then party… crazy party to say the least! I’m sure everyone involved will remember it for a long time :))
Congratulations once again Anna and Stephan. May your days as The Wunderfields be filled with as much colour and happiness as on you wedding day!
With Love,
Iga
Meghan and Oliver contacted me about a year before their wedding. What they were looking for were natural photos that would tell the story of their wedding day in an authentic, candid way. From our first call it was clear that we were a good match. I always look for genuine, spontaneous reportage style photos when I work and I’m very happy when this is exactly what my clients look for.
Meghan and Oliver are British, live in Dubai, travel a lot for work and are both wonderful, warm people with big hearts and open minds. In my work I often attract clients that resonate with who I am and it was the case also this time. On our first call we realised that we share the love for travel, both they and me are eternal nomads, we have similar sensitivity and easy approach to life. I find it fundamental to be on the same wave-length with my clients. After all, they trust me with the story of a very important day in their lives. It is a big day for them, but it is also for me. I want to give my best every time I take the camera in my hands.
I met with Meghan and Oliver the night before their wedding. Since their family and friends were already at the villa, the pizza night was a great way of getting together and having first photos taken. Everyone invited came to Tuscany from a far away corner of the world and it was important for the couple to have photographs from that evening as well. I love it when couples add pre-wedding dinner to their package, because it allows me to meet everyone before the wedding, get to know the bride and the groom and break the ice with people who love the camera a bit less :)) Plus the couple gets a collection of more casual memories with the people they care for the most.
Meghan and Oliver’s wedding perfectly reflected who they are. Although they are both easy going, they have the taste for elegance. In fact everything about their wedding was beautifully stylish and chic. It was curated by the talented eye of Elena, the wedding planner behind Italian Wedding Designer, who made sure that even the tiniest details were taken care of.
The story continues ↓
Location: Il Verreno
Flowers: Lilla Floral Design
Video: Three Seconds Film
Wedding planner: Italian Wedding Designer
MUA: Nelli Made
Band: Enola Grey
Officiant: Tuscany Pledges
Also the choice of location was spot on. Il Verreno is a villa in the Tuscan countryside and it itself has a healthy mix of rustic ease and elegance. With its beautiful villa, farm houses and the glass house for dinner and party, it was a perfect frame for all the stages of the event.
When I got there in the morning, the preparations of the bride and the groom had already started. Both Meghan and Oliver had an amazing team of bridesmaids and groomsmen that were next to them all the time, supported them, helped with the organisation and unexpected mood swings. They filled the farm houses with laughter and helped the bride and the groom be ready on time for the beautiful ceremony that was about to come.
The ceremony was organised outdoors in the villa’s garden. When I got there, the guests were already seated, waiting for the bride to arrive. Oliver and the groomsmen were nervously looking at the stairs leading to the garden, waiting for Meghan and her uncle, who walked her down the isle. After a few minutes of waiting, there she was, beautiful, shining like a star, happy and emotional. This is the moment of the wedding day when I often get emotional myself, drying my eyes behind the camera :)) The ceremony was a pure joy to witness. Skilfully led by Tuscan Pledges, it was a sentimental moment for everyone, the bride and the groom, their families and friends, tears rolling down their smiling cheeks.
After the flood of emotions we stopped for some formal family shots and a little later for a few candid couple photos in warm Tuscan light. Then we headed for aperitivo in the upper garden laying right in front of a breath-taking panorama of Val d’Ambra.
After sunset, everyone moved to the glass house, where gorgeous table setting was already waiting to impress with its flowing flowers and elegant table decor. What followed was a delicious dinner prepared in the villa’s restaurant, emotional speeches, wedding cake and then party party party! When the night came, music and colourful lights filled the air and Meghan and Oliver celebrated their wedding until late hours of that September night.
Congratulations Meghan and Oliver. I wish you that your life as The Gallos shines as brightly as the stars on your wedding night. Thank you for trusting me with the photography of your wedding day.
With Love,
Iga
Sometimes you meet people that just resonate with you right away and it was the case with John and Caitlin from Singapore who came to Tuscany for their holidays. Yet, it wasn’t just any vacation, as it turned out that John had a secret plan. He chose a romantic villa in Val d’Orcia to ask Caitlin to marry him. And guess what? She said Yes! I only spent one evening with them, but they they will stay in my heart for a long time to come. They are kind, tender, gentle and have so much love for one another that I felt emotional taking pictures of them. They are truly special and so is the feeling that brought them together. From the vinyards and the hills of Val d’Orcia, here is their visual story.
Location: Precise Tale Poggio alla Sala, Val d’Orcia
Villa Olimpia is a gem hidden in the heart of Tuscany. With a mix of rustic, modern and country feel, it attracts couples from all over the world to get married here. It was exactly the case for Ashley and Callum, a wonderful couple from Scotland who travelled across Europe with their family and friends to say “I do” between the Tuscan cypress trees and olive groves.
It was a day to remember and my heart is still filled with warmth whenever I think back at their wedding. The air was filled with friendship, family love, laughter and tenderness. Both Ashley and Callum are generous, genuine and emotional and they lived that day as a big mile stone in their love story.
Since they wanted to live and enjoy that chapter of their love story in the most relaxed way, the whole wedding event was held in the location. Getting ready, the ceremony and the dinner were all beautifully organised by Villa Olimpia so that Ashley and Callum were able to be the guests at their own wedding and savour the day fully.
We only left the location for the couple photos at sunset and we caught the romantic warm Tuscan light just round the corner from Villa Olimpia.
Now, enough writing, let’s have a look at the photos from that intimate wedding day.
Location: Villa Olimpia
Flowers: IF Designer
Two days before their wedding I met with Lisa and Kevin for their last couple photo shoot as a non-married couple. Everything about this session was delicious. Their closeness and special relationship they share, picturesque landscape of Castellina in Chianti and the unbeatable Tuscan light. They travelled from England to live this precious moment in life and for me it was a true pleasure meeting them before their wedding and then again on the big day!
From Tuscany with love… so much love, joy and limitless energy. I adore this joyful family, who travelled all the way from the US to Chianti and decided to immortalise their stay with this photo session. It was a time filled with laughs, hugs, kids play and parents’ love. Also the weather was on our side, as it rained all day only to stop for our session. Thank you weather!
Location: Chianti
Patrizia and Francesco are delightful new parents-to-be. I admire their tenderness and lightness. Deeply in love with one another, they are already in love with the little boy growing in Patrizia’s womb. On this session we were just outside of their home in Val d’Ambra, because, to be honest, in Tuscany often you don’t have to look far for a picturesque location. There are great panoramas almost everywhere you go. Add the golden hour and good vibes to that and you get memories dressed in a beautiful frame.
Location: Val d’Ambra
